Kabelvision
\nto show Olympics
\nlive in Jakarta<\/p>\n
Musthofid, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Due to the local TV stations' lack of interest in airing the
\nOlympics, Kabelvision, a cable TV broadcaster, has stepped into
\nthe vacuum and made a deal with the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia-
\nPacific Broadcast Union (ABU) for the rights to the program.<\/p>\n
\"We are proud to announce that Kabelvision will broadcast the
\n2004 Olympics, the most prestigious global sporting spectacle,
\ntaking place in Athens,\" Anya Wenas, the manager of marketing
\ncommunications, said in a release here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Anya said that the broadcasts would begin on Friday, Aug. 13
\nand the various events could be viewed on six channels.<\/p>\n
ABU, whose broadcast package did not draw interest from local
\nTV stations, confirmed the deal when contacted by The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
\"It was concluded last night,\" John Barton, ABU's head of
\nbroadcast operations, said.<\/p>\n
Barton said that it still was not an ideal situation for the
\nIndonesian people given that Kabelvision is only accessible to
\nits limited number of subscribers and the coverage area is only
\nin greater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Local TV stations decided not to show the general public the
\nOlympics, after complaining of overly expensive broadcast rights
\nand little interest by would-be local advertisers.<\/p>\n
While the ABU declined to mention the value of the package,
\nRCTI mentioned US$900,000. TVRI said that the starting price had
\nbeen US$1.5 million.<\/p>\n
A source close to the negotiations, however, said that the
\noriginal price was over $2 million, which was then significantly
\ntrimmed to $400,000.<\/p>\n
The ABU suggested that in the interest of Indonesian citizens,
\nand from a cost management point of view, that the television
\nstations should cooperate like tv station in Japan and Korea
\nhave.<\/p>\n
\"They declined,\" Barton said. \"It is the policy of the IOC,
\nand supported by the ABU, for the Olympic games to be seen by the
\nwidest audience possible, hence the desire for it to be broadcast
\non free television, by a country's national broadcaster, or a
\ncombination of them as is the case in Japan where five stations
\nare sharing the telecast, and Korea, where all their country's
\nbroadcasters (three) are involved,\" Barton said.<\/p>\n
The ABU made the latest offer but there was still not a
\npositive response from the broadcasters.<\/p>\n
\"As late as yesterday (Friday) I offered a daily highlights
\nprogram to Indonesian broadcasters but they still were not
\ninterested,\" Barton said.<\/p>\n
\"The program would feature all the medal events, ceremonies
\nand other happenings on a daily basis,\" Barton said.<\/p>\n
The highlight packaged was offered at just US$75,000.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kabelvision-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }